Visit Northumberland has rolled out the red carpet for more than 100 international travel buyers and journalists so far this year.

The visits began in January, carried out in collaboration with Visit Britain, NewcastleGateshead Initiative and Visit County Durham to promote the North East's broad range of city, countryside and historic tourist experiences.

Buyers and media from 18 international markets have visited the county.

This has included visitors from the US, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Denmark.

Andrew Fox, chair of Visit Northumberland, said: "We are delighted to be showcasing Northumberland’s outstanding offering as part of the wider, North East visitor experience to international buyers and travel press, highlighting the very best experiences and attractions in Northumberland to give a taste of what the region is all about within a short time frame.

"From the beauty of the Northumberland and County Durham coast and countryside to the vibrancy of Newcastle and Durham city centre, buyers will experience the quality of our tourism offer alongside our famous North East welcome.”

These visits, devised in partnership with Visit Britain's in-country teams, are a part of Visit Britain's national tourism strategy.

This activity follows the North East's selection to deliver the first ever Destination Development Partnership pilot in England.